Solar Garden Light – Everything to Know

Last updated on August 16, 2024

Solar garden lighting has become extremely popular nowadays as a simple means to illuminate landscapes with long term savings on the energy bill.

Solar garden lights are powered up by sunlight. The most common materials used to manufacture these lighting systems are glass, plastic, metal, copper wires, and fibre optic wires.

The installation process of solar lights is quite simple, reaching the desired results and effects rapidly.

All that is needed is a proper installation and direction within the garden, and the garden lights take care of harnessing sunlight and powering up during the night.

Solar lighting is becoming more appealing, with advances in illumination to achieve higher brightness and even longer operational times.

Most solar lights are fitted with an integrated photosensor, which detects the ambient light levels at sunset and at sunrise and turns the lights on and off accordingly.

Garden Solar Lights

A garden illuminated with solar lights will not only appear comfortable and inviting, but will also promote security as these lights act as a deterrent factor for criminals.

Proper distribution of garden solar lights improves the appeal of the garden at night and also the safety of the household.

Why use solar lights for the garden?

Not only are solar garden lights very convenient and very reliable sources of lighting, their cost is also very reasonable.

When weighed against the cost of electricity and the payments required over the lifetime of the light, the initial cost on the long run becomes insignificant.

Moreover, as these lights draw their energy from the sun, their operation does not affect the soil quality, as they don’t use electricity fed from electric outlets by cables running in the ground.

Solar garden lights are also much safer to use compared to their alternatives. They are eco-friendly, which means they have a positive impact on the environment.

Solar garden lights do not pollute the air, and when installed and laid out in a well-planned manner, they give the garden a natural and soft look which makes it very appealing to the eyes.

Are Garden solar lights good?

Garden solar lights used to be considered luxury items that were out of budget for the average consumer.

However, with time, they have become more affordable and much more efficient, greatly raising their popularity with consumers.

However, before rushing to purchase the first set of solar lights in the market, you need to make sure the lights you get meet your requirements and are suitable for your specific settings.

The lights should be able to provide enough brightness for the garden, to meet the operational requirements of the space, and should be planned and distributed in a way not to overcrowd the garden with solar lights.

Do solar garden lights Last long?

Another important feature to consider when purchasing solar garden lights is their longevity.

Even if they are more expensive, it is worth investing in solar garden lights that can last for many years. In most cases, solar light batteries are designed to last 3 to 4 years.

This means the battery will recharge multiple times until the power is entirely depleted.

However, various factors can influence the lifetime and operation of the battery, such as the type of light bulb used, the solar lights’ position and the cleanliness of the solar panel.

Do solar garden lights operate during winter?

During winter, solar lights work just the same provided the solar panel receives sufficient sunlight to charge the batteries and to keep the lights operational, assuming no malfunctions occur.

Solar power is sometimes misinterpreted in its need for sunlight to operate, the most significant factor for the proper operation is actually the light and not the heat.

Accordingly, no matter how cold it gets during winter, the solar lights will keep working.

The only drawback from winter operation is that the solar lights will not receive the same amount of sunlight they would in the summer due to shorter winter days and fewer daylight hours.

Below are some of the best solar lights currently available in Australia

OxyLED Solar Lanterns:

These are illuminated by amber-colored LED candles that flicker. They have 600mAh NiMH rechargeable batteries and an automated on/off feature.

A full charge takes roughly eight hours to complete and can operate the lights for eight hours. According to the manufacturer, the bodies of the lanterns are waterproof and weather-proof.

Otdair Solar Ground Lights:

The built-in 600mAh batteries in the Otdair Solar Ground Lights can last up to 10 hours. For enhanced brightness, each light contains eight LED lights.

These lights are waterproof, and according to the company, can also survive frost and snow. In addition, the lights switch on and off automatically at night and at dawn.

Lytworx 100 Multi-Color LED 2 Function Solar Fairy Lights:

Very stylish lights, this type is ideal for decorating gardens, picnic spots, and other outdoor settings.

These lights are 4.9m long and have dual function settings: flash and steady. They also have an automated lighting system built-in.

According to the reviewers, these lights are easy to set up and long-lasting.

They’re multi-colored, giving any outside space a lively yet comfortable and relaxed ambiance.

The lights are highly interactive and most people are fascinated by the switch these lights make from a steady glow to a spectacular ball of light with a single button press.

These aren’t the brightest fairy lights on the market, but considering they are solar powered, they illuminate the space quite nicely.

Gardenglo 400lm Solar Powered LED Spotlights:

These lights are connected to the panel by three-meter cables. The structure of the light fixtures is made of die-cast aluminum that is resistant to the harshest conditions.

The panel is composed of plastic, but has a high-quality feel to it. The lights are both bright and long-lasting.

Although this type is more expensive than market spotlights, consumers will be impressed with the quality of build and performance of this type of light.

Arlec 5W Integrated Solar Powered Sensor LED Floodlight

The Arlec solar garden light has dual modes and can function for up to 16 hours. It also features a six-meter detection range and a scan range of 120 degrees.

The body is composed of high-quality plastic, and the mounting bracket is made of aluminum. This solar lamp is rated IP65 and produces a 500 lumens output.

Top 10 Best Garden Solar Lights

1. Agoist Solar Ground Lights

Manufactured by Agoistic, this light is a modern and stylish product, with a solar power source and an LED type bulb.

An LED lighting product with high durability and effectiveness, this product has a round shape and a stainless steel body.

Technical product description

Size – 5.1 x 4.7 inches
Product model number – Solar ground light
Special feature – Instant on
Voltage – 1.2 volts
Wattage – 4 watts
Battery cell type – NiMH
Battery included – yes
Battery required – no
Control – easy
Warranty description – 1 year
Estimated battery life – 8 hours
Rated brightness – 8 LEDs
Weather resistance rating: IP65

Reasons to buy this product:

1. Long operating time – Each solar light is equipped with a 600 mAH rechargeable battery. After a full charge, the battery can operate the light for up to 8-10 hours and provide consistent lighting even on cloudy days.

2. Easy installation – Installing the lights at the desired location takes 15-20 seconds using the spike feature to fix the light to the ground. If the ground is too hard, do not attempt to twist or hammer the spike into place, instead use water to soften the ground and dig a proper hole for the spike.

3. Automatic functioning – the light fixture works automatically. Once the switch is turned on, the light will automatically turn on once it’s dark and turn off in the day or under a bright light.

4. Good design – this fixture is made of high-strength ABS, which makes it perfect for outdoor use, capable of withstanding the effects of rain, snow, ice, or sleet.

5. intelligent light control

6. Environmental protection – no utility power consumption means lighting functionality with power saving for a low-carbon setting and environmental protection.

Drawback(s):

After a year or two of operation, the battery should be replaced as its capacity to hold a charge degrades over time.

2. Aityvert Solar Lights Solar Flickering Flame Torch

This product is a solar powered lighting manufactured by ACSTAR LTD, with an LED light source and plastic housing.

Technical product description

Height – 42.9 inches
Solar panel – 0.88 watts, 20% efficiency
Battery – 3.7V, 2200 mAH
LED lifespan – 50,000 hours
Brightness – 35Im
Operational hours – up to 12 hours in summer and 5 hours in winter (after a full charge)

Reasons to buy this product

Easy installation: With no wiring required, this product can be placed at any location of choice, greeting guests with a warm and welcoming glow.
Auto on/off from dusk to dawn: Solar lights with a daylight sensor charge their batteries during the day, turning on at dusk and switching off at dawn.
Long working time: Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery (2200mAh) provides 12 hours of light during the summer and 5 hours in the winter at full charge. On a sunny day, the charging time is 8 hours.
Nice flames design: LEDs in the light cast a safe, soft, mood-enhancing glow, making it a safe alternative to genuine “flames.” The updated solar torches have a height of 42.9 inches.
Eternal flames are weatherproof: IP65 Waterproof and Durable, allowing them to withstand different weather patterns year round.

Drawback(s):

It might be too tall for your space
If damaged, the product is not easily repairable.

3. AMIR Upgraded Solar Powered String Lights

This is a copper lighting product with 100 Super Bright LED bulbs hanging on a 33-foot high-quality copper cable to illuminate in every direction with a continuous 360-degree viewing angle.

Ideal for use in gardens, patios, gates, yards, weddings and event spaces.

Technical product description

Brand- AMIR
Item weight- 9.6 ounces
Style- solar spring light
Dimension- height: 3.9inches, length: 3.3inches, width: 5.3inches.
Shape- bulb-shaped
Power source- solar (battery powered in some cases)
Voltage- 1.2V
Special feature- water resistant
Batteries- ‎1 Lithium-ion batteries required. (included)

Reasons to buy this product

High quality and flexible copper wire – Made of thin and flexible copper wire, coiled with a simple bobbin winder s, the string lights are easy to store and easy to re-install. It’s an eco-friendly product with a high energy conversion rate, and is long-lasting and safe to use.
Water resistance – Both the string lights and the solar panel are waterproof to IP65 standards, making them convenient to use in the rain.
Easy to shape – Flexible Copper wiring can be easily molded or wrapped around tree trunks or gazebos, and fades in the dark, leaving only the dazzling lights effect.

Drawback(s)

Multiple light strings can not be connected together

4. Ring Solar Steplight

This product is a solar-powered step light that illuminates at 50 lumens of light when motion is detected.

Its kit includes a Ring Bridge that enables smart features for Ring Smart Light and it’s solar powered, to benefit from direct sunlight to recharge and store power.

Technical description

Lighting – Up to 50 lumens (adjustable), 3500K Color Temperature
Dimension – 3.43 in x 2.19 in x 4.0 in (87.0mm x 55.5mm x 101.5mm)
Motion detection – Adjustable motion detection. Up to 120° field of view, detection angle dependent on distance from unit. 15’ detection range.
Special feature – it has a ring bridge

Reasons to buy this product

Ring of security – you can connect your Ring Smart Lights to your other compatible Ring devices using the Ring app to control and stay up to date to your home settings.
Works with Alexa – You can connect your Ring Bridge to Alexa-enabled devices to turn the lights on and off through voice commands.
Easy setup, involving 3 easy steps: Connect to the Ring Bridge, use the Ring app to configure your settings and position at your desired spot.

Drawback(s)

It is expensive

Brightech Ambience Pro Waterproof, Solar-powered Outdoor Light

This is a solar powered lighting product by Brightech, with portable and rechargeable batteries and made from rubber materials.

Technical description

Size – 27ft
Style – Bistro
Voltage – 120
Wattage- 1 watt
Bulb Type – LED
Battery cell type – lithium-ion
Shape – S14

Reasons to buy this product

It is easy to install and use – The lights can be hung in canopied designs or in straight runs throughout the garden, and has a relatively simple setup. Attach and fix the panel, using either the clamp or stake (both are included), at the location where it will receive the most sunlight.
Durable battery – it has a long-lasting battery
Creates nice ambience

Drawback(s)

Batteries cannot be replaced

Signature Garden 6 Pack Solar Garden Lights

this product can cover your garden with LED bulbs, each producing a bright, clean light. Place them along your route for a great combination of beauty and safety. It is a solar powered light source with a stainless steel body.

Technical description

Voltage – 1.2V

Dimension – 15 x 10.75 x 4.9 inches

ASIN – B01JBU4QZE

Manufacturer – Signature Garden

Reasons to buy this product

It beautifies the garden – Enhance the appearance of your garden, paths and landscape with a custom design using the Signature Garden LED lights to keep your garden, pathways, and flower beds attractive for years to come.
It is weather resistant – this product is protected against rain, snow, frost and sleet. It has one of the longest-lasting lives of any LED lamp on the market because of its high-quality stainless-steel structure, both highly durable and well-sealed.
Lights recharge automatically during the day

Drawback(s)

The product is not equipped with motion sensors

Urpower 2-in-1 waterproof 4 LED solar spotlight – this is a solar powered source light with a dual light mode: a high-light output mode (6 hours) and a low-light output mode (10 hours). URPOWER solar outdoor lights have a large solar panel that allows them to charge their 2200mAh battery quickly. The 4 LED solar spot lights can produce up to 200 lumens of lighting for 6-10 hours after a full charge.

Technical description

Material – Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

Waterproof level: IP64

Charging time:4-5 hours

Working time: about 6 – 9 hours

Rechargeable Battery: 3.7V 2200mAh

Dimensions: 29cm by 9.5cm by 34cm

Reasons to buy this product

Separately adjustable light and solar panel – The solar spotlights may be rotated up to 90 degrees to accommodate any outdoor area. For optimal sun exposure, the solar panel can be rotated up to 180 degrees.
Two-in-one option – Stakes can be used to anchor the product in the ground, or screws can be used to fix it on the wall. These solar landscape lights can be used to accent trees, statues, signposts, and pools, but also to illuminate your front entrance, driveway, and pathways.
Dual brightness setting

Drawback(s)

It can be quite bulky

LITOM 12 LEDs Solar Landscape Spotlights – Compared to other brands offering fixtures containing 4-6 LED lights, the LITOM/MPOW solar landscape light has 12 brilliant LED lights for significantly brighter illumination and a broader 120 degree lighting angle.

Technical description

Material – plastic

Switch type – light switch

Light direction – downlight

Reasons to buy this product

It has two light modes
Extremely high brightness

Drawback(s)

The product fixation and placement is not very flexible

Aootek 182 Led Solar outdoor motion sensor lights – This is a LED light product manufactured by Aootek.

Technical description

Shape – oval

Style – Art Deco

Power source – battery powered

Volt – 3.7V

Wattage – 3.7watts/hour

Battery type – lithium ion

Reasons to buy this product

It has three operational modes: a basic one for security, one for permanent operation throughout the night and the third is smart brightness control.
Sensitive PIR Motion Inductor
Ultra-Bright Lights

Drawback(s)

Although it’s highly functional and very practical, the overall look is not very attractive.

Ring solar pathlight – If you already own other Ring products, such as the Ring Video Doorbell, the Ring Solar Pathlight is the best solar garden option for you. These lights can illuminate your walkway from the bottom up, offer adjustable brightness levels, interact with Alexa, and can give you notifications when they detect movement.

Technical description

Light source – solar powered

Rated brightness: 80 lumens Estimated

Battery life: Varies depending on use

Weather resistance rating: IP66

Size: 16.8 in x 4.33 in x 4.33 in

Reasons to buy this product

1. Built-in motion detector

2. Adjustable brightness

3. Integrates with other Ring products

Drawbacks

Expensive
Needs bridge to connect to Wi-Fi

5 Things to Look For When Buying Best Garden Solar Lights

Consider the operating time
Examine the type of light bulb used by the solar light.
Check to see if the battery requires full sunlight to charge.
Determine what type of solar light is required for your application: decorative accent, path, or task.
Cost of light

FAQs

What is garden lighting?

Garden lighting, commonly known as landscape lighting, is the process of using artificial lighting systems to illuminate gardens and other outdoor spaces, and the lights used in this process are known as garden lights.

Many people use garden lights to ensure visibility and safety in open spaces, while others use them for decorative purposes, sports and commercial events, and even for accessibility. There are vast ranges of garden and outdoor lights that can meet the different categories.

What are the benefits of installing solar garden lights?

Although plants are typically the central and aesthetic features within a garden, well-planned and cleverly installed garden lights can greatly highlight the plants and the outdoor space in general.

Investing in proper outdoor luminaries can add a lot of value to your property or land, as buyers consider well-lit outdoor spaces (especially when coupled with a solar option) as a significant and decisive element in their decision on the property.

Moreover, outdoor lights can contribute to decreasing the probability of accidents and injuries. Once risky areas of the house, such as stairs or poolside areas, are brightly lit by garden lights, accident rates tend to decrease. Additionally, garden lights can minimize the danger of thefts and burglaries.

Are all garden lights eco-friendly?

You need to assess the energy source of your garden lights to answer this question. Simply put, if you opted for solar-powered garden lights, then you’re more eco-friendly.

Compared to other counterparts, solar garden lights (or landscape lights) are eco-friendly, economical, and add great aesthetic value to your garden, illuminating the space while protecting the environment.

Are garden lights worth the cost?

Understandably, the high cost of solar garden lights might pose a problem for many consumers who wonder if they will get proper value for their investment.

The direct answer is yes! These garden lights will reduce power consumption, improve your mood, increase the resale value of your property. More indirect benefits include huge savings on dark-spot damages, injury-related hospital bills and losses due to theft, all easily avoided with a good lighting system.

What are some disadvantages related to the use of solar garden lights?

You may argue that if a garden light uses solar energy as its source, then it has almost no associated downsides. Sadly, that’s not true. Using these light fixtures excessively or in an unorganized or misdirected way can lead to huge amounts of light pollution.

In fact, it can even lead to health-related altercations and disruptions in ecosystems. So, it would be best to use solar-powered garden lights judiciously.